Key Facts
- Duration
- 27 August – 21 September 1943
- US battalions committed
- 8 infantry battalions total
- Japanese evacuation date
- 20–21 September 1943
- Campaign context
- Part of the New Georgia campaign, Pacific War
Strategic Narrative Overview
A single US infantry regiment landed on the southeastern tip of Arundel and advanced in two columns along the eastern and western coasts. The Japanese garrison, initially small, received reinforcements and mounted stiffer resistance than anticipated. The Americans responded by committing elements of three additional infantry regiments, totaling eight battalions, supported by artillery, mortars, and US Marine Corps tanks, gradually pushing the defenders northward.
01 / The Origins
Following the capture of Munda airfield and the subsequent Japanese evacuation of mainland New Georgia, US commanders identified Arundel Island as a strategically valuable position. Occupying the island would allow American artillery to fire directly on Kolombangara, where the main Japanese troop concentration remained. This tactical objective drove the decision to mount an amphibious landing on the island in late August 1943.
03 / The Outcome
Japanese forces were compressed into a pocket on the Stima Peninsula on the island's northern coast. On 20–21 September 1943, they were evacuated by barge to Kolombangara, ending the battle. The US gained control of Arundel Island, securing the artillery platform needed to pressure Japanese positions on Kolombangara and advancing Allied momentum in the Solomon Islands campaign.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.